Netanyahu Slams PA Over Hevron Murder

Netanyahu criticizes PA incitement over murder of police officer and wounding of pregnant wife. Numerous public figures respond to attack.

Ari Yashar, 15/04/14 21:46

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu

Flash 90

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday responded to the murder of a police officer near Hevron on Monday, just before Passover began. The man was shot to death by terrorists while driving with his family to a seder meal in Kiryat Arba.

"This reprehensible murder of a man who was traveling with his family to a meal for the Festival of Freedom is the result of the incitement for which the Palestinian Authority (PA) is responsible," remarked Netanyahu.

In pointing the finger squarely at the PA for incitement, Netanyahu referred to a long trend; in March, PA official TV held a media fest at the funerals of several terrorists, in which a PA TV reporter called the murderers "stars" and "heroic knights." Earlier in March, a senior PA official appeared on TV saying "Allah will gather them (the Israelis) so that we can kill them."

Netanyahu added "the Palestinian Authority continues to constantly broadcast – in its official media – programs that incite against the existence of the State of Israel."

Connecting the propaganda to the attack, Netanyahu stated "last night this incitement was translated into the murder of a father who was traveling with his family to celebrate the first night of Passover. The incitement of the Palestinian Authority continues in that it has yet to see fit to condemn this abominable and reprehensible act."

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon discussed the IDF operations to track down the murderers on Tuesday night.

"In the hours since the attack on the night of the holiday, in which a police captain was murdered and two additional Israeli citizens were injured, the captain's wife and a nine-year-old child, IDF forces, border police and general security forces are in pursuit of the terrorist and those who sent him, if there were any," remarked Ya'alon.

In response to terror "don't release 430 terrorists"

Many other figures in the government likewise responded to the murder on Tuesday night.

Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon stated "when terror raises its head, the last thing we need to do is to consider releasing 430 terrorists to the streets."

Danon has threatened quitting the coalition government if a reported deal by which terrorists would be released and Israel would freeze construction in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem in exchange for the release of Jonathan Pollard and the continuation of peace talks.

Economics Minister Naftali Bennett similarly responded to the event, saying "the PA under (PA Chairman) Mahmoud Abbas encourages and funds murderers of Jews on one hand, and on the other extorts Israel to free those murderers. They are turned to terror, and not to peace."

Regarding the PA funding of terror, PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake announced in February that the PA would transfer an additional $46 million a year to released terrorists.

Gershon Mesika, head of the Shomron (Samaria) Regional Council, remarked "I won't be surprised if the terrorist was one of the prisoners released in one of the ridiculous immoral terrorist release deals that were conducted recently."

"Respond to terror the Zionist way - support Hevron"

Jews should respond to the attack precisely by coming to Hevron, said Malakhi Levinger, the Hevron-Kiryat Arba Regional Council head.

"I call on all the nation of Israel precisely now to come and give a clear Zionist response, to strengthen and be strengthened by the spirit of the Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs and celebrate the joy of the holiday with us at the different sites of the renewed ancient city, including 'Peace House," remarked Levinger.

Noting the connection between the release of terrorists and continued terror, MK Urit Struk (Jewish Home) called on the government to immediately stop talk of additional releases.

"The release of terrorists is fuel on the bonfire of the PA's terror, and Israel must stop providing that fuel. We in the Jewish Home party decided to stop being partner to the fueling of incitement and terror of the Palestinians," remarked Struk.

Last Tuesday Bennett announced he and his Jewish Home party would leave the government if Arab terrorists with Israeli citizenship were released in a deal with the PA.